Brake head balancing device



Jan. 19, 1954 V F E, BACHMAN 2,666,506

BRAKE HEAD BALANCING DEVICE Filed May 24, 1949 Patented Jan. 19, 195.4

BRAKEH-EAD BALAN DEVICE Fred-E; Bachmam St. Louis,v Mo., assigner to American SteelFoundries, Chicago, Ill.,V a'corporationof- New Jersey ApplcationMay524, 1949,V seriallNo. 95,030

8-Claims.- 1

This invention relates to railway brake equip ment and -more particularly to brake'head'bal# ancing devices for use on clasp brakes.

An object'of the invention is to provide an automatically adjustable brake head' balancing device for clasp brake rigging.

Another object of the invention is to ,provide a brake rigging incorporating balancing means for controlling Vand limiting movement of. the brake head assemblies, upon release of the vrigging, to prevent the assemblies from dragging on the vehicle Wheels.

A more speciiio cbj ect is to provide a brake head balancing device incorporating` stopmeans engageable With the head for positively limiting rotation of the Vhead on its supporting pivot .element in a direction causing the upper end of the shoe to drag on the wheel.

The invention contemplates the use of friction means to resist rotation ci the brake head assembly and the use of stop means for'positively restricting rotation of the assembly within certain specied limits.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent from the specication and. thedrawings, wherein:

Y Figure 1 is a side VVelevational View of a .brake arrangement incorporating the invention;

Figure 2'is an end view taken from theright as seen inFigure 1;

Figure 3 is aview comparableto Figurel showing the parts in released. position; and..

Figures 4 to 6 illustrate aY friction member, Fig-- ure 4 being a side elevational vieW thereof,'Fig ure 5 an end View taken from the right as seen in Figure fi, and Figure 6 a bottom view thereof`- Describing the invention in detail, the arrangement comprises a brake head, generally designated 2, including a transverse Wall 4 formed and arranged to afford. a conventional support for a brake shoe 5 engageable with the tread of the associated Wheel 8. The Wall 4 is integrally formed with spaced. inboardand outboardv side wallsl l0 and i2, the side walls being provided centrally thereof with bearing portions i3 and M aligned transversely of the brake head.

The brake head walls HJ and i2 are received between a pair of spaced inboard and outboard hangers i6 and I8, and the head is connected to the hangers by a trunnion v20 of a brake beam 22, the trunnion extending through aligned openv ings in the lower ends of the hangers and through the bearing portions I3 and I4.' The upper'ends of the hangers arepvotally connected as at 24 to a support structure ZSWhich is prei- (Cl. 18S-@4206) erably part of the truck frame. The assembly is* actuated to applied and released positions by conventional -rigging (not shown) connected tothe beamas will be readily understood by those skilledgin the art.

Automatically adjustable brake head balancing meansareprovided to control rotation of the head to prevent the upper end of the shoe E from engaging onthe tread of Wheel 3 in the released position of the rigging.

The balancing means comprises rightand left-hand members 25 and 3D disposed inboardiy and. outboardly of hangers i and I8, respectively. Each member 28'and 30 comprises a body portion 32v intermediate its ends. The body portion of each member Eiland 3G is provided with .aY

Each body portion 32 is provided with a trans'- verse peripheral U-shaped web 38 extending around the lateral. edges and bottom end o the adjacent hanger in predetermined spaced rela' tionship` thereto. The edge. of the web 3S remote from the associated body portion is pro vided` with. an outturned iiange i.

Flange i0 of member 28 Vi'rictionally engages as at l2 the external side of brake head Wall iii while the 4body portion 32 of said member frictionally engages as at t4 the shoulder 3@ o1"Y the beam.v

Similarly, iiange i6 of member 3B. engages the external side of the brake head wall i2 as at lili andthe bodyportion 320i member daiifords a seat .as at 4B for the inner end of a compression spring. 50 sleeved over the trunnion 2&3 and seated` at rits outer end as at l52 against the inner face of a nut 5@ threaded on the trunnion. R43-, .tation of the nut varies the compression of the spring which. maintains the members 28 and 3i] nengagement with the parts heretofore de scribed.

The body portion` 32 of each member 28 and Se `is provided with an upper arm E formed as a spring 62 compressed between the rear edge of' The upper end of the related hanger as at @il and a spring seat 56 within the pocket.

The body portion 32 of each member 2S and dii is also provided with a lower arm 53 formed as a continuation of the flange d. rilhe arm S is integrally formed with a transverse web or rib iii which extends diagonally with respect to the vertical axial plane of the associated member along its lower edge and merges at its upper end with web 33. The lower end of web 'lil extends beyond the rear edge of arm (it and together with arm 68 merges with a lug l2 which extends transversely behind the brake head for engagement with the rear edge of the adjacent brake head wall below the axis of rotation of the brake head.

In operation of the device, the hanger pivots at 2d when the brake is applied, the bottom of the shoe contacting the wheel first. Continued brake application forces the shoe into brakingr contact with the periphery of wheel 8, causing pivotal movement of the head with the friction arms as a unit on trunnion 2l) relative to the hangers. rthis movement compresses the springs E52 againstthe backs of the hangers, which upon release of the brake system, causes the head and shoe to rotate in a clockwise direction (Figure 1) until the stop or abutment 'it afforded by the web 38 of each member 28 and 3S engages with the front edge of the related hanger as in Figure 3.

It will be appreciated that under service conditions, the brake equipment is subjected to continuous vibration and shocks such as may overcome the frictional resistance developed between the friction members 28 and 3B and the brake head walls so that the head is caused to rotate in a counterclockwise direction (Figure 1). In such event the rear edges of the brake head walls engage the stop lugs 'i2 on members 3&3 before the upper end of the head drags on the wheel. lit will be noted that the engagement between the brake head walls and the stop lugs l2 is cushioned by the action of springs S2.

The balancing means is self-adjusting. As the shoe or wheel wears, the rotation of the head during braking application becomes greater than the clearance between the hangers and faces of the friction arm spring pockets Sil which act as stops, or abutnients upon further rotation of the head, said abutments engage the rear faces of the hangers restraining further movement of the friction members and causing an adjusting movement between the friction members 2i! and 3b and the head, the head having an independent movement relative to the members 28 and 3@ by overcoming the frictional resistance between the friction members and the head as applied by spring 50. i

On release of the rigging, the parts, as adiusted, will assume similar relative positions so that the springs 52 will function to return the head to a position to prevent dragging of upper edge of the shoe on the wheel.

To prevent malfunctioning of the balancing means by accumulation of dirt between the head, hangers, and the friction member, the web 38 of each member is provided with a drain opening 1S at the bottom of the body portion.

It will be noted that the arms 56 and 68 are disposed at the same side of the axis of pivot of the associated member 28 or 3i! and that the stops ill are disposed at the opposite sides of said axis.

28 and 4 I claim: 1. A friction member for brake rigging described in its normal position with respect to the rigging, comprising a substantially vertical body portion with an opening therethrough accommodating mounting and rotation of said member on an axis extending transversely thereof, a U- shaped web integral with the inner side of said body portion and extending transversely thereof, said web being provided with a drain opening at the bottom of the U, an outturned flange on the edge of said web remote from said body portion, said member being provided with upper and lower arms at one side of said axis, the upper arm being formed as a continuation of said web, flanges and body portion and having a spring pocket at its upper end open at the end thereof adjacent said axis, said lower arm being formed as a continuation of said iiange, a rib formed integral with the external side of the portion of said flange forming said lower arm and extending diagonally with respect to a vertical axial plane of said member along the lower edge of said lower arm and at its upper extremity extending substantially vertically and merging with the underside of said U-shaped web, said rib extending at its lower end beyond the edge of said lower arm remote from said side of said axis and together with the portion of said flange forming said lower arm, and a stop lug extending from the inner side of said lower arm transversely thereof.

2. In combination, a wheel, a brake head assembly comprising a brake head carrying a shoe on its forward side engageable with the tread of the wheel, a support for moving said assemly for engaging and disengaging the shoe with the tread of the wheel, means connecting said support and head including friction means for resisting pivotal movement of said head relative to said support except when the shoe is applied to said tread, said friction means including upper and lower arms, the upper arm extending along the side of said support remote from said wheel, resilient means compressed between said upper arm and said side of said support for rotating said head with said friction means as a unit a limited amount in a direction moving the upper end of said assembly away `from said tread when said shoe is disengaged from said tread, and stop means carried by said lower arm for engagement with the rear side of said head below the axis of rotation of said assembly for limiting rotation of said assembly in a direction moving the upper end thereof toward said tread.

3. In combination, a brake a hanger, pivot means securing said hanger to said head, a friction member pivoted on said pivot means, resilient means carried by said pivot means for urging said member into frictional engagement with .said head whereby said member and h I are rotatable as a unit, said member clearing se hanger to accommodate limited rotation of sa member and head relative to said hanger, spr means disposed above the axis of of so head and member and compressed betw n member and a side of hanger remote from said head for rotating said member and head in a direction moving the upper end of hee d toward said hanger, and stop means member engageable with the back or" vfrom said hanger.

4. In combination. a wheel, a brake head having a shoe engageable with said wheel, hangers pivotally` connected to said head for support thereof, ffriction means for effecting a frictional connection between said head and hangers to ref sist pivotal movement therebetween, said fricn with said hangers for limiting said movement of said friction means with said head relative to said hang/ers in one direction, said friction means comprising stop means disposed below and at the opposite side of said axis and engageable with said head for limiting pivotal movement of said head relative to said hangers and said friction means in the opposite direction.

5. A friction member for brake rigging, comprising atbody portion, a transverse U-shaped web on the inner side of said body portion, an outturned ange on the edge of said web remote from said body portion and presenting a friction surface for engagement with an associated brake head, said body portion having an opening accommodating mounting and rotation of said memberon an'axis extending transversely thereof, oppositely extending arms integral with said body portion disposed at one side of said axis, one of said arms being formed as a continuation of said body portion and the adjacent sections of said web and iiange and having a spring pocket, the other arm being formed as a continuation of said flange-.and presenting a friction surface coplanar with the first-mentioned surface for engagement with an associated head, and a transverse stop lug on the inner side of said last-mentioned arm.

6. In a brake arrangement, a wheel, a brake head assembly adapted for braking engagement with the wheel, a support, pivot means rotatably connecting said assembly with said support, friction means for controlling the rotation of said Vassembly with respect to the support and includ- 6 1 of said assembly and engageable therewith to limit rotation of said assembly'in a direction moving the upper end of said assembly toward the wheel, and yielding means reacting between said support and friction means above said axis in opposition of said direction ofivmovement of said assembly to afford a yieldable action for said stop means upon engagement of said assembly there- 7. In a brake arrangement, the combination of a brake head, a support therefor, means pivotally connecting said head and support and including friction means engaging the head for frictionally resisting rotation of said head relative to said vsupport and loosely interlocked with said support .head with respect to said support in the opposite direction.

8. A friction member for brake rigging comprising a body portion including a peripheral web adapted to embrace a portion of a brake hanger, said body portion having an opening accommodating mounting of said member on a pivot element and rotation thereof on an axis extending transversely of said member, said body portion being provided with upper and lower arms at one side of said axis. a stop lug on said lower arm, and a spring pocket on said upper arm, said web being provided with a stop portion at the opposite side of said axis adapted to abut said hanger.

FRED E. BACHMAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,269,257 Burton June 11, 1918 2,043,693 Baselt June 9, 1936 2,394,382

Holm Feb. 5.,. 194@ 

